Ronda Rousey vs. Alexis Davis Set As Co-Main Event For UFC 175

While there were other higher profile names being tossed about, it will be Alexis Davis getting the next title shot this summer against UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey.

Since Rousey’s most recent title defense at UFC 170 against Sara McMann, there had been plenty of speculation about the possibility of the dominant champion facing former Strikeforce star Gina Carano. In the end, Davis gets the call to face Rousey in the co-main event of UFC 175 on July 5 in Las Vegas.

Rousey has clearly become one of the organization’s most marketable fighters and is certainly shaping up to be the promotion’s busiest champion. The matchup in July will mark her third title fight in seven months. She needed only 66 seconds to dispose of McMann in her last fight. It was Rousey’s first stoppage via strikes after eight straight armbar submission victories. She’s a perfect 9-0 in her career and no doubt will be a huge favourite against the gritty Davis.

Davis earned her opportunity thanks to three straight Octagon victories. In her last fight, which took place on the February 22 card headlined by Rousey vs. McMann, she recorded a split decision victory over Jessica Eye. The 29-year-old Canadian has won her last five fights and has also posted UFC wins against Liz Carmouche and Rosi Sexton. The no. 2 ranked Davis has a 16-5 record, including seven victories by submission.

The July 5 event is part of the UFC’s International Fight Week and is scheduled to be headlined by a middleweight title bout between champion Chris Weidman and challenger Lyoto Machida.